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Solomon’s wisdom in action

05.02.2017 – Old Testament: 1Ki 3.23–27

To read the Bible in a year, read First Kings 3–5 on May 2, In the year of our Lord 2017

By Don Ruhl

You have undoubtedly heard of the wisdom of Solomon. Have you seen it in action? Two prostitutes lived together and they both had baby boys. During the night one of them rolled over on her son. She then exchanged her dead baby with the living baby. The woman who had the living baby brought the matter to Solomon for his judgment,

And the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son, who lives, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other.” Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.” So the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother” (1 Kings 3.23–27).

Solomon knew what the true mother would do, yet, he also had to distance himself from them and from the living baby. He could not have a personal interest in the outcome. He had courage and that is wisdom!